Segment Information (Information On Reportable Segments And Reconciliation To Consolidated Net Income) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 subscription		Jun. 30, 2012 subscription		Jun. 30, 2013 segment subscription		Jun. 30, 2012 subscription		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments					3
Total members at end of period	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Revenues	$ 1,069,372,000		$ 889,163,000		$ 2,093,333,000		$ 1,758,954,000
Cost of revenues	753,525,000		643,428,000		1,480,388,000		1,267,361,000
Marketing	121,760,000		113,964,000		250,935,000		243,892,000
Contribution profit (loss)	194,087,000		131,771,000		362,010,000		247,701,000
Other operating expenses	136,970,000		115,617,000		273,071,000		233,482,000
Operating income	57,117,000		16,154,000		88,939,000		14,219,000
Other income (expense)	(10,468,000)		(5,499,000)		(41,360,000)		(10,589,000)
Provision for income taxes	17,178,000		4,491,000		15,419,000		2,050,000
Net income	29,471,000		6,164,000		32,160,000		1,580,000
Total content library, net	3,045,811,000				3,045,811,000				2,874,170,000
Amortization of content library	527,959,000		392,301,000		1,031,936,000		752,083,000
Domestic Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	29,807,000	[1]	23,938,000	[1]	29,807,000	[1]	23,938,000	[1]
Revenues	671,089,000		532,705,000		1,309,738,000		1,039,370,000
Cost of revenues	449,473,000		378,574,000		885,979,000		739,350,000
Marketing	70,302,000		66,732,000		141,095,000		140,137,000
Contribution profit (loss)	151,314,000		87,399,000		282,664,000		159,883,000
Total content library, net	2,413,819,000				2,413,819,000				2,317,070,000
Amortization of content library	344,441,000		275,495,000		680,189,000		530,020,000
International Streaming [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	7,747,000	[1]	3,624,000	[1]	7,747,000	[1]	3,624,000	[1]
Revenues	165,902,000		64,973,000		307,921,000		108,398,000
Cost of revenues	182,885,000		108,542,000		347,909,000		199,953,000
Marketing	48,850,000		45,858,000		102,765,000		100,555,000
Contribution profit (loss)	(65,833,000)		(89,427,000)		(142,753,000)		(192,110,000)
Total content library, net	606,841,000				606,841,000				527,235,000
Amortization of content library	165,809,000		100,502,000		315,801,000		185,713,000
Domestic DVD [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total members at end of period	7,508,000	[1]	9,240,000	[1]	7,508,000	[1]	9,240,000	[1]
Revenues	232,381,000		291,485,000		475,674,000		611,186,000
Cost of revenues	121,167,000		156,312,000		246,500,000		328,058,000
Marketing	2,608,000		1,374,000		7,075,000		3,200,000
Contribution profit (loss)	108,606,000		133,799,000		222,099,000		279,928,000
Total content library, net	25,151,000				25,151,000				29,865,000
Amortization of content library	17,709,000		16,304,000		35,946,000		36,350,000
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-Lived Assets	3,900,000				3,900,000				4,000,000
Domestic [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Long-Lived Assets	$ 124,000,000				$ 124,000,000				$ 127,700,000

[1] A membership (also referred to as a subscription) is defined as the right to receive either the Netflix streaming service or Netflix DVD service. In connection with these services, the Company offers free-trial memberships to new and certain rejoining members. For inclusion in the definition of a member in the above metrics, a method of payment is required to be provided even during the free-trial period. Total members therefore include those who are on a free-trial and have provided a method of payment. A membership would be canceled and cease to be reflected in the above metrics as of the effective cancellation date. Voluntary cancellations become effective at the end of the monthly membership period, while involuntary cancellation of the service, as a result of a failed method of payment, becomes effective immediately.